总统乔·拜登由于民主党人质疑他的竞选活动的可行性和精神健康状况，他面临着一场政治危机，将在周四举行今年首次单独新闻发布会时受到考验，这也是他两周前辩论以来的第一次。
周四晚上的高风险时刻是拜登改变叙事的机会，此前他在辩论中的糟糕表现引发了他自己党内的担忧，即他可能太弱了，无法在今年11月战胜唐纳德·特朗普。
尽管拜登一再试图反驳他的批评者，并坚持说他将继续竞选，但在这个没有剧本的环境中的任何失误都可能会火上浇油。
许多民主党人表示，他们需要看到拜登清楚地回答问题，而不动摇或失去他的思路——是什么让他们对他与特朗普的辩论感到如此恐慌。
新闻发布会将在拜登结束在华盛顿主持北约峰会后举行，时间与网络新闻广播首次播出一样。
拜登用一句强有力的演讲联盟的力量，这是标志着其75周年，并宣布新的防空能力乌克兰在与俄罗斯的战争中。
但给国际会议蒙上阴影的是拜登的国内政治命运，围绕他是否有能力再领导美国四年以及特朗普连任总统的可能性展开了辩论。
这些问题是国会民主党人本周在假期周末返回华盛顿时最关心的问题，他们一直闭门讨论前进的道路。
拜登周一在给民主党人的一封挑衅信中试图先发制人地阻止批评，他在信中说，现在是“走到一起”的时候了，他“坚定地承诺”将在这场竞选中坚持到底。
但现在有13名众议院民主党人和一名民主党参议员呼吁拜登辞职。私下里，许多人表示担心，如果拜登继续名列榜首，不仅可能失去总统职位，还可能失去众议院和参议院。
多名熟悉他的评论的人士告诉ABC新闻，众议院少数党领袖哈基姆·杰弗里斯(Hakeem Jeffries)告诉他的同事，他计划向拜登本人转达他们对拜登竞选的担忧。
杰弗里斯和参议院多数党领袖查克·舒默已经公开支持拜登。当被问及有关拜登候选人资格的问题时，舒默只是告诉记者，“我支持乔”。
但似乎怀疑来自华盛顿最杰出的民主党人之一，前众议院议长南希佩洛西，引发了新一轮的抗议和关注。
当在MSNBC露面时被问及拜登是否得到她的支持时，佩洛西说，这是“由总统决定他是否参加竞选”，她希望他“做他决定做的任何事情”
在辩论后的旋风般的日子里，民主党人敦促拜登更多地公开露面和即兴交流。
拜登坐下来接受了美国广播公司新闻主播乔治·斯特凡诺普洛斯的首次辩论后电视采访，试图纠正错误打消了对他健康状况的广泛担忧并说只有“万能的主”让他退出，他才会退出。
周四的新闻发布会将是拜登自去年11月以来的首次单独新闻发布会，尽管自那以来他已经与各国领导人举行了四次联合新闻发布会。白宫没有说明拜登将回答多少问题，但表示这将超过联合新闻发布会上分配的数量。
“他很期待，”白宫新闻秘书卡琳·让·皮埃尔告诉记者。他会回答你的问题。所以，这将是一件好事。”
Biden's solo, unscripted news conference a pivotal moment in debate rebound effort
PresidentJoe Biden, facing a political crisis as Democrats question the viability of his campaign and mental fitness, will be put to the test on Thursday when he holds his first solo news conference of the year -- and the first since his debate two weeks ago.
The high-stakes moment on Thursday evening is an opportunity for Biden to change the narrative after his poor debate performance triggered a drumbeat of concerns in his own party that he might be too weakened to win against Donald Trump this November.
But any stumbles in the unscripted setting could add fuel to the fire, despite Biden's repeated attempts to rebuff his critics and his insistence that he is staying in the race.
Many Democrats have said they need to see Biden clearly answer questions without faltering or losing his train of thought -- what so alarmed them about his debate showing with Trump.
The news conference, coming just as network newscasts first come on the air, will come after Biden concludes hosting a NATO summit in Washington.
Biden kicked off that off with astrong speechon the strength of the alliance, which is marking its 75th anniversary, and an announcement of new air defense capabilities forUkrainein its fight against Russia.
But overshadowing the international gathering was Biden's domestic political fate amid debate over his ability to lead the U.S. for another four years and the possibility of a second Trump presidency.
Those questions have been top of mind for congressional Democrats this week as they returned to Washington after the holiday weekend and have been huddling behind closed doors to discuss the path forward.
Biden tried to preemptively block criticism in a defiant letter to Democrats on Monday, in which he said it was time to "come together" and that he is "firmly committed" to staying in this race to the end.
But there are now 13 House Democrats and one Democratic senator who have called on Biden to resign. Privately, many have expressed concern about the possibility of not only losing the presidency but also the House and Senate if Biden remains atop the ticket.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., told his colleagues he plans to relay their concerns about Biden's campaign to Biden himself, multiple people familiar with his comments told ABC News.
Jeffries and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have publicly backed Biden. Schumer simply told reporters, "I'm with Joe" when he was peppered with questions on Biden's candidacy.
But seeming doubt fromone of the most prominent Democrats in Washington, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, prompted a fresh wave of outcry and concern.
When asked during an appearance on MSNBC if Biden had her support, Pelosi said it was "up to the president to decide if he is going to run" and that she wants him to "do whatever he decides to do."
In the whirlwind days following the debate, Democrats urged Biden to do more public appearances and off-the-cuff exchanges.
Biden sat down for his first post-debate television interview with ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos in an effort to course correct, during which he largelydismissed broader concerns about his fitnessand said he would only drop out if "Lord Almighty" told him to.
Thursday's news conference will be Biden's first solo one since November, though he's held joint news conferences with various world leaders four times since then. The White House, while not stating how many questions Biden will take, said it will be more than what is allotted during a joint presser.
"He’s looking forward to it," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters. "And he will be taking your questions. So, that’ll be a good thing."
